Communication device

ABSTRACT

The application discloses a communication device and method of processing a text message in the communication device. An aspect of the present application is a method of processing text message in a communication device, the method including receiving a text message from an external sender, receiving a request to transform the text message into voice data, transforming the received text message into voice data according to the request, and transmitting the voice data to an external sound reproduction device through a wireless communication module.

The present application is a 37 C.F.R. §1.53(b) continuation of U.S.patent application Ser. No. 12/400,537 filed Mar. 9, 2009, which claimsthe benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/035,043 filed on Mar.10, 2008, the entire contents of all which are hereby incorporated byreference and for which priority is claimed under 35 U.S.C. §120.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present application relates to a communication device. The presentapplication also relates to a method of processing text information,using the communication device.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

A communication device has been widely used. The communication devicecan perform voice communication and/or video communication. Recently,such a communication device has been extended up to a personal computer(PC) function.

Functions executable using such a communication device may includefunctions of playing music and receiving text information (hereinafter,referred to as a “text message”). Also, as an auxiliary device of such acommunication device, an external sound (including music) reproductiondevice is used. Generally, such an external sound reproduction device isconnected to the communication device in a wired or wireless manner. Forexample, the external sound reproduction device includes an ear phone orhead set. The following description will be given in conjunction with anexample in which the external sound reproduction device is a head sethaving a wireless communication function.

Generally, a wireless head set, to which a wireless communication moduleis mounted, has a main object to perform voice communication with acommunication device spaced apart from the wireless head set by acertain distance, to enable the user to talk over the communicationdevice with a counterpart. Meanwhile, conventional communication deviceshave a function of simply displaying a received text message. For thisreason, it may be difficult for the user of such a conventionalcommunication device to identify a received text message. In particular,when the communication device is spaced apart from the user, forexample, when the communication device is contained in a bag carried bythe user, the user cannot easily identify the text image.

The communication device or wireless head set, which will be describedhereinafter, may be implemented, using any near field communicationsystem. Although a Bluetooth system is illustrated as the near fieldcommunication system, in the following description, for easyunderstanding of the present application, the present application is notlimited thereto. Other near field communication systems, for example, aWibree system, an ultra low power (ULP) Bluetooth system, a wirelessfidelity (WIFI) system, a Zigbee system, and an infrared dataassociation (IrDA) communication system, may be used. Also, thecommunication device described in the following description is notlimited to a specific product (for example, a mobile phone or a personaldigital assistant (PDA)). It will be appreciated that the communicationdevice may be any electronic device having a communication function.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present application is directed to a communicationdevice and a method of processing a text message in the communicationdevice.

An object of the present application is to provide a method andapparatus for transforming a text message received by a communicationdevice into voice data, and transmitting the voice data to a wirelesshead set.

Another object of the present application is to provide a method andapparatus for transforming a text message received by a communicationdevice into voice data, and transmitting the voice data to an externalsound reproduction device.

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the present applicationwill be set forth in part in the description which follows and in partwill become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art uponexamination of the following or may be learned from practice of thepresent application. The objectives and other advantages of the presentapplication may be realized and attained by the structure particularlypointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as theappended drawings.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with thepurpose of the present application, as embodied and broadly describedherein, a method of processing a text message in a communication devicecomprises: receiving a text message from an external sender; receiving arequest to transform the text message into voice data; transforming thereceived text message into voice data according to the request; andtransmitting the voice data to an external sound reproduction devicethrough a wireless communication module.

A further aspect of the present application is a method of processing atext message in a communication device, the method comprising: receivinga text message from an external sender; determining whether a voicesample corresponding to the external sender is present in a storage unitof the communication device; transforming the received text message intovoice data using the voice sample corresponding to the external senderif the voice sample is present in the storage unit; transforming thereceived text message into voice data using a predesignated voice sampleif the voice sample corresponding to the external sender is not presentin the storage unit; and transmitting the transformed voice data to anexternal sound reproduction device through a wireless communicationmodule.

A further aspect of the present application is a method of processing atext message in a communication device, the method comprising: receivinga text message from an external sender; transforming the received textmessage into voice data; checking whether an external sound reproductiondevice is reproducing a sound; generating control information forcontrolling a playing volume of the sound if the external soundreproduction device is reproducing the sound; and transmitting thecontrol information and the transformed voice data to the external soundreproduction device through a wireless communication module.

The control information may control the playing volume of the sound tobe reduced or muted.

A further aspect of the present application is a method of processing atext message in a communication device, the method comprising: receivinga text message from an external sender; transforming the received textmessage into voice data; checking whether an external sound reproductiondevice is reproducing sound data which is transmitted by thecommunication device itself; and transmitting the sound data to theexternal sound reproduction device through a first channel and thetransformed voice data to the external sound reproduction device througha second channel, if the external sound reproduction device isreproducing the sound data, wherein the first channel and second channelare physically separated and are used for the external soundreproduction device.

A further aspect of the present application is a method of processing atext message in a communication device, the method comprising: receivingat least two text messages from an external sender; determining whetherthe received at least two text messages are associated with aconcatenate single-message; reordering the received at least two textmessages in an order of reception of the at least two text messages;transforming the received at least two text messages into voice dataaccording to a result of the reordering; and transmitting thetransformed voice data to the external sound reproduction device througha wireless communication module.

A further aspect of the present application is a communication devicehaving a wireless communication module, the device comprising: areceiver configured to receive a text message from an external sender;and a controller configured to execute control operations to receive arequest to transform the text message into voice data, to transform thereceived text message into voice data according to the request, and totransmit the voice data to an external sound reproduction device throughthe wireless communication module.

A further aspect of the present application is a communication devicehaving a wireless communication module, the device comprising: areceiver configured to receive a text message from an external sender; astorage unit configured to store voice samples; and a controllerconfigured to execute control operations to determine whether a voicesample corresponding to the external sender is present in the storageunit, to transform the received text message into voice data using thevoice sample corresponding to the external sender if the voice sample ispresent in the storage unit, to transform the received text message intovoice data using a predesignated voice sample if the voice samplecorresponding to the external sender is not present in the storage unit,and to transmit the transformed voice data to an external soundreproduction device through the wireless communication module.

A further aspect of the present application is a communication devicehaving a wireless communication module, the device comprising: areceiver configured to receive a text message from an external sender;and a controller configured to execute control operations to transformthe received text message into voice data, to check whether an externalsound reproduction device is reproducing a sound, to generate controlinformation for controlling a playing volume of the sound when theexternal sound reproduction device is reproducing the sound, and totransmit the control information and the transformed voice data to theexternal sound reproduction device through the wireless communicationmodule.

The control information generated from the controller may control theplaying volume of the sound to be reduced or muted.

A further aspect of the present application is a communication devicehaving a wireless communication module, the device comprising: areceiver configured to receive a text message from an external sender;and a controller configured to execute control operations to transformthe received text message into voice data, to check whether an externalsound reproduction device is reproducing sound data which is transmittedby the communication device itself, and to transmit the sound data tothe external sound reproduction device through a first channel and thetransformed voice data to the external sound reproduction device througha second channel, when the external sound reproduction device isreproducing the sound data, wherein the first channel and second channelare physically separated and are used for the external soundreproduction device.

A further aspect of the present application is a communication devicehaving a wireless communication module, the device comprising: areceiver configured to receive text messages from an external sender;and a controller configured to execute control operations to determinewhether at least two of the received text messages are associated with aconcatenate single-message, to reorder the at least two text messages inan order of reception of the at least two text messages, to transformthe at least two text messages into voice data according to a result ofthe reordering, and to transmit the transformed voice data to theexternal sound reproduction device through the wireless communicationmodule.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description of the present application areexemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide furtherexplanation of the present application as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a furtherunderstanding of the present application and are incorporated in andconstitute a part of the present application, illustrate embodiment(s)of the present application and together with the description serve toexplain the principle of the present application. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a communication deviceand a wireless head set according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of thecommunication device and wireless head set according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present application;

FIG. 3 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a textmessage in a communication device according to an exemplary embodimentof the present application;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a detailed configuration of avoice transformer according to an exemplary embodiment of the presentapplication;

FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a textmessage in a communication device according to another embodiment of thepresent application;

FIGS. 6A to 6C are flow charts illustrating methods for processing atext message in a communication device according to another embodimentof the present application, respectively;

FIG. 7 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a textmessage in a communication device according to another embodiment of thepresent application;

FIG. 8 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a textmessage in a communication device according to another embodiment of thepresent application; and

FIG. 9 is a flow chart illustrating a method for processing a textmessage in a communication device according to another embodiment of thepresent application.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent application, examples of which are illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a front view schematically illustrating a communication device100 and a wireless head set 200 according to an exemplary embodiment ofthe present application.

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a state in which a voice signaltransformed, by a voice transformer (which will be described later),from message information received by the communication device 100 whenthe message information is received by the communication device 100 istransmitted to the wireless head set 200, using a wireless communicationsystem, for example, a Bluetooth system.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating configurations of thecommunication device 100 and wireless head set 200 according to anexemplary embodiment of the present application. The communicationdevice 100 according to the illustrated embodiment of the presentapplication includes a display unit 120, an input unit 130, a radiofrequency (RF) circuit 140, a controller 110, a memory 150, a voicetransformer 160, and a Bluetooth module 170.

The display unit 120 includes a general display device, which may beequipped in general communication devices. The display unit 120functions to display various information, to enable the user to view thedisplayed information. For the display unit 120, a liquid crystaldisplay (LCD), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), etc. may be used.

The input unit 130 may include various input elements such as a key pad,a jog shuttle, a point stick, a touch screen, and a touch pad. The inputunit 130 may be used to select a function desired by the user or toinput information desired by the user.

The RF circuit 140 is a circuit to enable the communication device 100to perform transmission and reception of voice and control informationwith a base station in a wireless manner. The RF circuit 140 performscommunications with the base station via an antenna. The RF circuit 140also receives a text message transmitted from an external sender via theRF circuit 140.

The controller 110 controls the overall operation of the communicationdevice 100. The controller 110 may be implemented by a microprocessor ora digital signal processor (DSP). In this connection, processes invarious embodiments according to the present application are controlledby the controller 110. They will be described in detail later inconjunction with the associated embodiments.

The memory 150 stores program or data required to operate thecommunication device 100. For the memory 150, an erasable programmableread only memory (EPROM), a static random access memory (SRAM), a flashmemory, etc. may be used. The memory 150 may store message informationsuch as a text message (short message service (SMS) message), an e-mail,a multimedia message system (MMS) message.

The voice transformer 160 transforms the received message informationinto a voice signal. For a technique to transform message informationinto a voice signal, a text to speech (TTS) transform technique may beused. The transformed voice signal may be transmitted in a wirelessmanner, using a protocol recommended by a Bluetooth standard forBluetooth near field communication.

The voice transformer 160 will be shown in detail in FIG. 4. Generally,the voice transformer 160 is implemented by a text to speech server. Thevoice transformer 160 includes a message analyzing unit 161 foridentifying the kind of a message received by the communication device100, and analyzing and interpreting the message, a text transform unit162 for transforming the result of the analysis performed by the messageanalyzing unit 161 into text information, a voice transform unit 163 forre-transforming the text information transformed by the text transformunit 162 into a voice, and a database unit or storage unit 164 forstoring various voice information.

The database unit 164 stores various voice types, in order to set avoice type designated by the user. For example, the database unit 164may store voice types such as a man voice type, a woman voice type, achild voice type, a baby voice type, and an aged voice type. In anotherembodiment, which will be described later, the database unit 164 may beset to output the received message information in the form of a voicecorresponding to the voice of the external sender, using the voiceinformation of the external sender. For example, when a text messagefrom a particular external sender is received, the database unit 164 maybe configured to enable the text message to be transformed into a voiceof the external sender in accordance with a voice synthesis.

In order to implement such a configuration, the database unit 164 maystore data of voice samples corresponding to respective externalsenders. The communication device may also store voice samples ofpopular singers, talents, famous persons, etc. favorite to the user, toenable the received message to be transformed into a voice in accordancewith a voice synthesis using the voice sample selected by the user. Inthis case, the user of the communication device may sample voiceinformation of all persons whose telephone numbers are stored in thecommunication device, through voice recording. When the user talks overthe communication device with a counterpart, the voice of thecounterpart may also be automatically recorded by a particular deviceequipped in the communication device, to sample the voice information ofthe counterpart. In addition, desired voice samples may be downloaded tothe communication device over the Internet so that they may besubsequently used. The information sampled using the above-describedmethods is stored in the database unit 164, so that it may be used totransform message information into a voice. If there is no voice sampleof the external sender stored in the database unit 164, the voice samplemay be sampled during a telephone conversation of the user with theexternal sender, to be stored in the database unit 164. For an externalsender whose voice sample is stored in the database unit 164, the storedvoice sample may be used as it is, or his voice information may be newlysampled to substitute for the stored voice sample.

That is, when the user of the communication device 100 makes a telephoneconversation with a counterpart, the communication device 100 firstdetermines whether there is a voice sample of the counterpart stored inthe communication device 100. For a new external sender or receiverwhose voice sample is not stored, the communication device 100 maysample voice information during the telephone conversation.

Accordingly, it is possible to maximize the convenience in terms of userinterface because the received message is transformed into a voice,using the voice of the external sender, not a standardized mechanicalsound stored in the communication device.

In an exemplary embodiment, the kind of the received message isidentified by the controller 110 which, in turn, sends information as tothe identified message kind to the voice transformer 160. In anotherembodiment, when the message kind identified by the controller 110 is anMMS message or an e-mail containing an image, for example, a videoimage, the video and audio signals associated with the message may betransmitted in a synchronized state, using a wireless communicationsystem, without a transform thereof by the voice transformer 160, inorder to enable the user to identify the message.

For example, where the communication device 100 uses a Bluetoothwireless head set using a Bluetooth wireless communication system,namely, the wireless head set 200, the wireless head set 200 makes avoice conversation, using a head set profile when it is connected withthe communication device 100 in a wireless manner. In this case, when acall is made, the communication device 100 operates as an audio gatewaydevice for input and output signals, whereas the Bluetooth wireless headset 200 operates in a remote audio input/output manner. In this case,accordingly, inputting/outputting of audio signals is changed from aspeaker and a microphone equipped in the communication device 100 to aspeaker and a microphone equipped in the Bluetooth wireless head set200.

An MMS message or an e-mail containing a still/moving image may bereceived by the communication device 100. In this case, it may bedifficult or troublesome for the user to directly use the communicationdevice. Using a method according to an exemplary embodiment of thepresent application, the user may easily identify such a message.

For example, if the head set 200 includes a certain display screen, andan RF communication module enabling the head set to performtransmission/reception of not only audio data, but also video data in awireless manner, it is possible to identify the MMS message or the imageattached to the e-mail, using the standard according to the usedwireless communication system, without directly controlling thecommunication device.

Using a protocol recommended by such a Bluetooth standard, it may bepossible to implement a technique for reproducing a text messagetransformed into TTS data in accordance with an exemplary embodiment ofthe present application. The information transformed into a voice signalby the voice transformer 160 is transferred to the Bluetooth module 170.The voice signal transferred to the Bluetooth module 170 is transmittedto the Bluetooth module 210 included in the wireless head set 200. Thevoice signal is then output from a speaker unit 230 included in thewireless head set 200 after being transformed into an audible sound bythe speaker unit 230. Using a button unit 220, it may be possible toexecute various setting operations associated with voice messagereception, volume, music play/stop, etc. The button unit 220 of the headset may be equally applied to the communication device 100.

The message information may include various information, namely, a textmessage, time information, alarm information, position information, etc.

As described above, the wireless head set 200 according to theillustrated embodiment of the present application may include theBluetooth module 210 capable of receiving message informationtransformed into voice data through a wireless communication. Thewireless head set 200 may further include a Bluetooth interface (notshown) capable of interfacing signals with the Bluetooth module 210.

The wireless head set 200 also includes a display unit 240, to displayvarious status information generated during operation of the head set200. The wireless head set 200 can execute operation of a call button oradjustment of call/volume. The wireless head set 200 sends key inputdata corresponding to a key pressed by the user. The button unit 220 mayinclude a knob (not shown) for selecting a reproduction speed of a musicor a voice signal corresponding to the received message information, orselecting a message to be reproduced.

When an alarm or the like informing of reception of a text message isreceived from the communication device 100, the user presses the callbutton or another button included in the button unit 220, to identifythe text message in the form of a voice message. The wireless head set200 may be set such that a mode to output the voice message is stoppedwhen the user re-presses the button, or automatically stopped when thevoice message is completely output.

Hereinafter, configurations of the communication device 100 and wirelesshead set 200, transmission methods, and various application examplesaccording to various embodiments of the present application will bedescribed in detail.

First Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIG. 3 illustrates a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a first embodiment of the presentapplication.

The method according to this embodiment includes step S300 of receivingmessage information by the communication device, and discriminating thekind of the received message information, step S310 of informing thewireless head set of the reception of the message information, step S320of checking whether the message information is to be transformed into avoice signal, step S330 of transforming the received message informationinto a voice signal when it is determined, based on the result of thechecking, that there is a voice transform request, and step S340 oftransmitting the transformed voice signal to the wireless head set in awireless communication manner.

Where the voice transform request has been set as a default in a certainuse example, the step of checking whether the message information is tobe transformed into a voice signal, may be dispensed with. Also, wherethere is no voice transform request, it is possible for the user todirectly identify the message information on the communication device(S350).

Various message information, for example, an SMS message, an e-mail, anMMS message, etc. may be received by the communication device. When suchmessage information is received by the communication device, the usercan identify the received message information through the display unit120, if he can easily access the communication device. Also, where thewireless head set includes a display screen, it is possible to display aspecific icon, for example, an text or graphic icon, on the displayscreen. In a certain use example, it may also be possible to set thewireless head set such that the wireless head set displays differenticons respectively corresponding to the SMS message, MMS message, ande-mail.

In a use example in which the wireless head set does not include adisplay screen or is unsuitable for the display of an icon, it may bepossible to inform the wireless head set of the reception of the messageinformation, using a specific sound (an alarm or the like) or vibration.

The sound may have various types. For example, when it is determinedthat, in a telephone number list stored in the communication device,there is the same information as the telephone number of the externalsender, after matching of the telephone number with the telephone numberlist, it is possible to inform the wireless head set of whether it isdesired to receive the message sent from the external sender, togetherwith information as to the external sender, for example, a caller ID. Inthis case, the caller ID may also be sent after being transformed into avoice signal. In order to enable the user to preferentially identify theexternal sender, the caller ID may be transformed into a voice signalwhich is, in turn, sent to the head set, preferentially over the voicesignal of the message. In this case, accordingly, the user can determinewhether it is desired to receive the message, preferentially over thetransform of the message. In a use example in which the wireless headset includes a light emitting device such as a light emitting diode(LED), it is possible to inform the user of the reception of the messageinformation by turning on the LED to cause the LED to emit light.

If voice transform is executed even for an advertising message, a spammessage, or the like, the user may be inconvenienced. Accordingly, it isdesirable to appropriately filter such a message by the communicationdevice.

The filtering function is to previously cut off message informationcontaining a specific number or pattern set by the user. For the cut-offmessage information meeting such a condition, no voice transform may beexecuted.

For example, when a specific number, for example, “060” or “080”, isprefixed to the telephone number, the controller 110 recognizes thetelephone number as a spam number, and so filters the associated messageinformation. Also, a specific pattern may be set to filter messageinformation containing a specific spam word (for example, “loan”).

The controller 110 may also be set to generate different sound effectsin accordance with different message types, respectively. Alternatively,it may be possible to inform the user of the reception of messageinformation, using an audible message of, for example, “A message YYfrom Mr. XXX was received.”.

In another use example, it may be possible to receive a messagetransformed into voice data only when the message meets a specificsetting environment set by the user, without transforming all messageinformation received by the communication device such that the messageinformation can be sent to the wireless head set. Various user's settingenvironments may be set in accordance with various use examples. Forexample, when the communication device receives message information, itmay inquire about whether the user desires to request a voice transform.In response to the inquiry, the user may request a voice transform ofthe message information into a voice signal. Only when the user requeststhe voice transform, the communication device executes a TTS transform,and transmits the resultant data to the wireless head set.

The communication device may be set to enable the user to receive avoice signal only at a specific time set by the user. It may also bepossible to execute a voice transform only in association with aspecific number designated by the user. A lock device may also beprovided at the communication device or head set, to lock the head setin a voice message reception enable mode, thereby automaticallytransforming message information into a voice signal, irrespective ofwhether the user requests a voice transform, and automaticallytransmitting the voice signal to the head set. In this case, the callerID may be transformed into a voice signal such that the user hears thecaller ID in the form of an audible sound, prior to the voice signal ofthe message information.

In a certain use example, message information may be received when thecommunication device is in an on screen mode. In this case, it isgeneral that the communication device is in a state of being grasped bythe user's hand or being positioned near the user. In this case,accordingly, it may be unnecessary to transform the message informationinto a voice signal to be transmitted to the wireless head set. When theuser views an image displayed on the display screen of the communicationdevice, it may be possible to output an icon having a message ortelephone shape on the display screen. Alternatively, the reception ofthe message information may be informed by vibrating the communicationdevice or outputting the caller information to the display screen.

On the contrary, when message information is received in a state inwhich the screen of the communication device is inactive, namely, in anoff screen mode, it may be possible to additionally check whether thehead set is connected. This checking may be achieved using softwareinstalled in the communication device. In accordance with the standardof a near field communication system applied to the wireless head set,for example, a Bluetooth system, a non-connection event may beautomatically informed when no electric power is supplied to the headset, or when the head set is positioned beyond a communication possiblearea of the communication system supported by the communication device.On the other hand, when the head set is positioned within thecommunication possible area of the communication system supported by thecommunication device, and electric power is normally supplied to thehead set, a connection event is automatically informed. Accordingly, thecommunication device can always check whether the head set is in aconnected state. This will be described in detail. When information asto the current status of the head set 200 is sent from the head set 200to the communication device 100 via the Bluetooth module 170, theinformation is transferred to the controller 110 as status information110 b. The controller 110 interprets the status information 110 b, toidentify the current status of the head set 200.

When it is determined, based on the result of the checking, that thehead set 200 is in a normally-connected state enabling wirelesscommunication, the communication device 100 transmits the messagetransformed into voice data to the head set 200. On the other hand, whenit is determined, based on the result of the checking, that the head set200 is not in the connected state, the reception of the messageinformation may be informed to the communication device 100, using asound, vibration, an icon, etc.

When the communication device is in a standby mode state, the receptionof the message information may be informed to the communication deviceor to the head set, using an alarm or vibration. In this case, theinforming of the reception of the message information may bedistinguished from the informing of the reception of an incoming call.

Second Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIG. 5 illustrates a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a second embodiment of the presentapplication. The use examples described in conjunction with the firstembodiment are equally applicable to the second embodiment. Inparticular, the second embodiment has features in that a voice transformis achieved using the voice of the external sender.

When a text message is received (S510), the communication device checkswhether there is a voice sample of the associated external sender(S520). This checking may be achieved by checking, by the controller110, whether there is a voice sample of the external sender in thedatabase unit (hereinafter, referred to as a “storage unit”) 164 of thevoice transformer 160.

If there is a voice sample of the external sender, a voice transform isexecuted using the voice sample of the external sender (S530). The voicetransform is executed through the voice transform unit 163 of the voicetransformer 160. The message transformed into voice data is sent to thehead set 200 via the Bluetooth module 170 (S540).

If there is no voice sample of the external sender, a voice transform isexecuted using a predesignated voice sample (S550). The messagetransformed into voice data is sent to the head set 200 via theBluetooth module 170 (S560). The “predesignated voice sample” may be avoice sample predesignated in accordance with a setting operation of theuser, as described in the first embodiment.

Third Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIGS. 6A to 6C illustrate a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a third embodiment of the presentapplication. The use examples described in conjunction with the firstembodiment are equally applicable to the third embodiment. Inparticular, the third embodiment is associated with the case in which aspecific sound (for example, a music) desired by the user is reproducedthrough the head set.

That is, when message information is received in a state in which theuser listens to music through the head set, using a music play functionsupportable by the communication device, the communication device shouldinform the head set of the reception of the message information. Whenthe message information received in the state, in which the user listensto music through the head set, is supplied to the user after beingtransformed into a voice signal, there may be a problem in associationwith the processing of the sound to which the user listens.

For example, where the user listens to music at a high volume level,there may be an occasion that the user cannot clearly hear the messageinformation transformed into a voice signal. To this end, it may bepossible to automatically reduce the volume level of the music when thevoice signal is received (FIG. 6A). In accordance with a certain useexample, the music, to which the user is listening, and the transformedmessage may be transmitted through different channels, respectively(FIG. 6B). In accordance with another use example, the music, to whichthe user is listening, may be paused (FIG. 6C).

FIG. 6A illustrates one use example according to the third embodiment.

When a text message is received (S610), the communication devicetransforms the text message into a voice signal (S620). The controller110 then checks whether the head set 200 is playing music (S630). Thechecking is achieved by interpreting a response signal 110 b generatedfrom a controller 250 of the head set 200 in response to a controlsignal 110 a from the controller 110 of the communication device 100.

When it is determined at step S630 that the head set 200 is playingmusic, the controller 110 generates the control signal 110 a to reducethe playing volume of the currently-played music (S640). The controller110 also transmits the transformed message to the head set 200 (S650).The transmission of the control signal 110 a to the head set 200 isachieved via the Bluetooth module 170. The controller 250 of the headset 200 adjusts the volume level of the speaker unit 230 in accordancewith the control signal 110 a. When it is determined at step S630 thatthe head set 200 does not play music, the controller 110 transmits thetransformed message to the head set 200 (S600). After completion of thelistening to the transformed message, the temporarily-reduced volumelevel is recovered to the original level, to enable the music to beplayed at the original volume level.

FIG. 6B illustrates another use example according to the thirdembodiment.

In the use example of FIG. 6B, steps S610, S620, S630, and S660identical to those in the use example of FIG. 6A are executed. However,if it is determined at step S630 that the head set 200 is playing music,the controller 110 transmits the currently-played music data through afirst channel of the head set 200 (this data is reproduced through afirst speaker of the head set 200) (S641), while transmitting thetransformed message through a second channel of the head set 200 (thismessage is reproduced through a second speaker of the head set 200)(S642). The controller 250 of the head set 200 controls the music dataand message data transmitted through the different channels to be outputthrough the first speaker (for example, a left speaker) and secondspeaker (for example, a right speaker) constituting the speaker unit230, respectively.

FIG. 6C illustrates another use example according to the thirdembodiment.

In the use example of FIG. 6C, steps S610, S620, S630, and S660identical to those in the use example of FIG. 6A are executed. However,if it is determined at step S630 that the head set 200 is playing music,the controller 110 generates the control signal 110 a to mute thecurrently-played music (S643). The controller 110 also transmits thetransformed message to the head set 200 (S650). The controller 250 ofthe head set 200 temporarily mutes the currently-played music, andoutputs the transformed message through the speaker unit 230. Aftercompletion of the listening to the transformed message, the controller250 releases the temporal muting, to enable the music to be played atthe original volume level.

Fourth Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIG. 7 illustrates a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a fourth embodiment of the presentapplication. The use examples described in conjunction with the firstembodiment are equally applicable to the fourth embodiment. Inparticular, the fourth embodiment has features in terms of messageprocessing based on the determination of the use status of the head set.

When a text message is received (S710), the communication devicetransforms the received text message into a voice signal (S720). Thecommunication device then identifies the current use status of the headset 200 (S730). The identification is achieved by interpreting aresponse signal 110 b generated from a controller 250 of the head set200 in response to a control signal 110 a from the controller 110 of thecommunication device 100.

When the head set 200 is playing music, control operations according tothe third embodiment (FIGS. 6A to 6C) are executed. On the other hand,when the head set 200 is in an idle state, the controller 110 transmitsthe message transformed into the voice signal to the head set 200(S770). When the head set 200 is in a telephone conversation servicestate, the controller 110 informs the head set 200 of the reception ofthe text message (S740), and waits for a request from the user of thehead set 200 for the reception of the transformed message (S750). Whenthere is a request from the user of the head set 200 for the receptionof the transformed message, the controller 110 transmits the transformedmessage to the head set 200 (S760). In this connection, the use examplesdescribed in conjunction with the first embodiment may be equallyapplied to steps S740, S750, and S760, so no detailed descriptionthereof will be given.

Fifth Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a fifth embodiment of the presentapplication. The use examples described in conjunction with the firstembodiment are equally applicable to the fifth embodiment. Inparticular, the fifth embodiment has features in terms of messageprocessing executed when a long text message is received in a dividedstate.

Generally, text message service provided by communication devices isreferred to as “short message service (SMS)”. In accordance with SMS,transmission of text is possible within a limited data capacity (forexample, 80 Kbytes). In a particular case, however, a text messageexceeding the above-described data capacity may be prepared. In thiscase, the text message is transmitted in the form of a plurality ofsuccessive text messages. For example, where the text message preparedby the external sender is 100 Kbytes, a portion of the messagecorresponding to 80 Kbytes is transmitted as a first text message, andthe remaining portion of the message (namely, the 20 Kbyte portion) istransmitted as a second text message. That is, two text messages aresuccessively transmitted.

For the text messages successively transmitted as described above, thecommunication device first receives the first text message, and thenreceives the second text message. In a general message displayingmethod, the second text message received at a later time (namely, mostlately received) is first displayed, and the first text message receivedat a time earlier than that of the second message is then displayed. Inthis case, the user may be confused. Also, the user may beinconvenienced in conjunction with the identification of the successivetext messages. Furthermore, there may be a problem in applying theabove-described embodiments of the present application to the voicetransform of the successive text messages. The fifth embodiment providesa method capable of solving such problems.

When a text message is received (S810), the communication device checkswhether the received text message is associated with a concatenate longtext message (S820). For example, when, among text messages receivedthrough the RF circuit 140 and stored in the memory 150, there are aplurality of text messages sent from the same external sender andsuccessively received within a predetermined reference time (forexample, one second), the controller 110 may determine the text messagessent from the same external sender as a concatenate long text message.

When it is determined at step S820 that the received text message isassociated with a concatenate long text message, the controller 110reorders short text messages constituting the concatenate long textmessage in an original order, namely, an order of reception of the shorttext messages (S830). That is, the short text messages constituting theconcatenate long text message are reordered in order, starting from afirst short text message, which was first received. The order ofreordering corresponds to the order of text messages intended by theexternal sender. The reordered concatenate long text message is thentransformed into a voice signal (S840). Thereafter, the same procedureas the procedure of the fourth embodiment starting from step S730 may beexecuted with regard to the transformed text message (B).

Sixth Embodiment of Method of Processing Text Message in CommunicationDevice

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for processing a text message in acommunication device according to a sixth embodiment of the presentapplication. The use examples described in conjunction with the firstembodiment are equally applicable to the sixth embodiment. Inparticular, the sixth embodiment is associated with the case to whichthe second to fifth embodiments are simultaneously applied.

When a text message is received (S910), the controller 110 of thecommunication device checks whether the received text message isassociated with a concatenate long text message (S920), as in the fifthembodiment (FIG. 8). When it is determined at step S920 that thereceived text message is associated with a concatenate long textmessage, the controller 110 reorders short text messages constitutingthe concatenate long text message in an original order (S930).

Thereafter, the controller 110 checks whether there is a voice sample ofthe external sender in the database unit (or the storage unit) 164(S940), as in the second embodiment (FIG. 5). When there is a voicesample of the external sender, the reordered concatenate long textmessage is transformed into a voice signal, using the voice sample ofthe external sender (S950).

Subsequently, the controller 110 identifies the current use status ofthe head set 200 (S970), as in the fourth embodiment (FIG. 7). When thehead set 200 is playing music, the controller 110 generates a controlsignal to adjust the playing volume of the currently-played music, todivide a transmission channel, or to mute the currently-played music(S980), as in the third embodiment (FIGS. 6A to 6C).

On the other hand, when the head set 200 is in a telephone conversationservice state or in an idle state, the controller 110 executes stepsS1000, S1100, S1200, and S1300 in the same manner as steps S740, S750,S760, and S770 in the fourth embodiment. No detailed description will begiven of subsequent steps.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made in the present applicationwithout departing from the spirit or scope of the inventions. Thus, itis intended that the present application covers the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A method of processing a text message in a communication device, themethod comprising: storing voice information corresponding to acounterpart during a telephone conversation with the counterpart if thevoice information of counterpart has not been stored; receiving a textmessage from the counterpart; determining whether to transform thereceived text message into voice data according to control information,wherein the control information corresponds to a condition fortransforming a text message into voice data, selectively transformingthe received text message into voice data using the stored voiceinformation of counterpart according to a result of the determiningstep; and transmitting the transformed voice data to a soundreproduction device.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the counterpartis a person whose telephone number has been stored in the storage. 3.The method of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising; recordingthe voice of counterpart during a telephone conversation with thecounterpart.
 4. The method of claim 3, wherein the method furthercomprising; sampling the recorded voice of counterpart to be stored inthe storage as the voice information of counterpart.
 5. A communicationdevice comprising: a storage configured to store voice informationcorresponding to a counterpart during a telephone conversation with thecounterpart if the voice information of counterpart has not been stored;a receiver configured to receive a text message from the counterpart;and a controller configured to; determine whether to transform thereceived text message into voice data according to control information,wherein the control information corresponds to a condition fortransforming a text message into voice data, selectively transform thereceived text message into voice data using the stored voice informationof counterpart according to a result of the determining; and transmitthe transformed voice data to a sound reproduction device.
 6. Thecommunication device of claim 5, wherein the counterpart is a personwhose telephone number has been stored in the storage.
 7. Thecommunication device of claim 5, wherein the controller records thevoice of counterpart during a telephone conversation with thecounterpart.
 8. The communication device of claim 7, wherein thecontroller samples the recorded voice of counterpart to be stored in thestorage as the voice information of counterpart.